tow MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 2014 Repair Manual

Do not remove the SmartKeyfromthe
ignition lock. Do not open the driver's
door or front-passengerdoor when the
engine is switched off. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission selects park
positionPautomatically and locks the
wheels. You can prevent this by shifting
the automatic transmission toN
beforehand.
RVehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park positionP
automatically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in positionN:
XMake sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock (Ypage 147).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/
Stop button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionN.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the electric parking brake.
XSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the
windshield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowedatspecially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in all
countries concerned.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
XUseasoft sponge to clean.
XUseamild cleaning agent, such asacar
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlet.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly withachamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agent dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet fromacircular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components.
Componentsdamaged in this way may fail
unexpectedly. There isarisk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced
immediately.
!Always maintainadistance of at least
11.8in(30 cm) between the vehicleand the
powerwasher nozzle. Information about
thecorrectdistanceisavailablefromthe
equipmentmanufacturer.
Movethepower washernozzle around
when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
Rtires
Rdoor gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
Relectrical components
312Care
Maintenance and care

Useful information............................320
WherewillIfind...?...........................320
Flat tire..............................................321
Battery(vehicle)................................322
Jump-starting....................................326
Towing and tow-starting..................328
Fuses..................................................331
319
Breakdown assistance

Useful information
iThis Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please notethat your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systemsand functions.
iRead the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Ypage 26).
WherewillIfind...?
First-aid kit
XOpen the trunklid.
XSlide the stowage net down.
XOpen the stowage compartment.
XRelease tensioning strap.
XRemove first-aid kit.
iCheck the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least onceayear. Replace the
contents if necessary, and replacemissing
items.
Vehicle tool kit
General notes
The vehicle toolkit can be foundinthe
stowage well under the trunk floor.
Vehicles witha"Minispare" emergency
spare wheel
Vehicle tool kit tray
Stowagewell
$"Minispare" emergency spare wheel
XOpen the trunk lid.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage283).
The vehicletool kit contains:
RFolding wheelchock
RFuse allocation chart
RJack
RAlignment bolt
ROne pairofgloves
RLug wrench
RTowing eye
Vehicles withacollapsible spare wheel
(AMG vehicles)
Towingeye
Onepair of gloves
$Jack
!Folding wheel chock
320Where willIfind...?
Breakdown assistance

XFirst, remove the jumper cablesfrom earth pointand negative terminal!,then from
positiveclampand positiveterminal$.Begineachtime at the contacts on your own
vehicle first.
XClose coverof positiveclampafterremoving the jumper cables.
XHave the battery checkedataqualified specialist workshop.
iJump-startingisnot considered to beanormal operatingcondition.
iJumper cables and further information regardingjump-starting can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Importantsafetynotes
GWARNING
Functionsrelevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engineisnot running.
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
Rthereisamalfunction in the voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
forcemay be necessary to steer or brake.
There isarisk of an accident.
In such cases, useatow bar. Beforetowing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
GWARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
Rthe towingeye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There isarisk of an accident.
When towingortow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight ratingcan be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Ypage 372).
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
preventdamage to thevehicle,deactivate
DISTRONICPLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise,the vehicle could
be damaged.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle.Ifindoubt,
recover the vehicle withacrane.
!When towing, pullawayslowly and
smoothly.Ifthe tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
!When towing vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
use the key instead of the Start/Stop
button. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission may shift to positionPwhen
the driver's or front-passenger door are
opened, which could lead to damage to the
transmission.
!The vehicle can be towedamaximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles(50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
328Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, have it transported onatransporter
or trailer.
The automatic transmission must be in
positionNwhen the vehicle is being towed.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise,you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to
positionN
iDeactivate the automatic locking feature
(Ypage 83). You could otherwisebelocked
out when pushing or towing the vehicle.
Installing/removing the towing eye
Installing the towing eye
GWARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be very hot. There
isarisk of burns when removing the rear
cover.
Do not touch the exhaust pipe.Take particular
carewhen removingtherear cover.
Example:towing eye covers
Towing eye covers (AMG vehicles)
The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, behind the covers.
XRemove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit (Ypage 320).
XPull coverout of the bumper in the
direction of the arrow by inserting your
fingers into the recess.
XPress the mark on coverinwards in the
direction of the arrow.
Towing and tow-starting329
Breakdown assistance
Z

XTake coveroff the opening.
XScrew in and tighten the towing eye
clockwise to the stop.
Removing the towing eye
XUnscrew and remove the towing eye.
XPosition the top of coverin the bumper
and press it in at the bottom until it
engages.
XAttach coverto the bumper and press
until it engages.
XPlace the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit.
Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
!The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP®could
otherwise damage the brake system.
Only possible for vehicles without
4MATIC.
XSwitchonthe hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 120).
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.
XWhen leaving the vehicle, take the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO key with you.
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is importantthat you observe the
safety instructions (Ypage 328).
Towingavehicle with both axles on
theground
It is importantthat you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Ypage 328).
The automatic transmission automatically
shifts to positionPwhen you open the driver's
or front-passenger door or when you remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order
to ensure that the automatic transmission
stays in positionNwhen towing the vehicle,
you must observe the following points:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey in the ignition lock is in
position0.
XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop button
(Ypage 147).
XDepress and hold the brake pedal.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionN.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 120).
XLeave the SmartKey in position2in the
ignition lock.
iWhen towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usualtosignalachange of
direction. In this case, only the indicator
lamps for the direction of travel flash. After
resetting the combination switch, the
hazard warning lamp starts flashing again.
Transporting the vehicle
!Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye can be used to pull the vehicle
ontoatrailer or transporter for transporting
purposes.
330Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

XTurn the SmartKey to position2in the
ignition lock.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionN.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionP.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.
XSecure the vehicle.
Notes on 4MATIC vehicles
!Vehicles with 4MATICmust not be towed
with either the frontorthe rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it
transported onatransporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in positionP.To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N,you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Ypage 326).
Have the vehicle transported onatransporter
or trailer.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be started by tow-starting. This
could otherwise damage the transmission.
You can find information on "Jump-starting"
at (Ypage 326).
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you manipulate or bridgeafaulty fuse or if
you replace it withafuse withahigher
amperage, the electric cables could be
overloaded. This could result inafire. There
isarisk of an accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
!Only use fuses that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benzvehicles and which
have the correct fuse ratingfor the system
concerned. Otherwise, componentsor
systems could be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle serve to close down
faulty circuits. Ifafuse blows,all the
componentsonthecircuit and their functions
stop operating.
Blown fusesmust be replacedwith fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and value. The fuse ratings are listed
in the fuse allocation chart.
Ifanewly inserted fuse also blows, have the
cause traced and rectified ataqualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-BenzCenter.
Beforechangingafuse
XSecure the vehicle against rolling away
(Ypage 167).
XSwitchoff all electrical consumers.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove it (Ypage 147).
or
XOn vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, make sure
the ignition is switched off (Ypage 147).
All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
must be off.
Fuses331
Breakdown assistance
Z

The fuses are located in various fuse boxes:
RFuse box in the engine compartment on the
left-hand side of the vehicle, when viewed
in the direction of travel
Rfuse box in the trunk on the right-hand side,
when viewed in the direction of travel
the fuse allocation chart is located in the
vehicle tool kit in the stowage compartment
under the trunk floor (Ypage 320).
Fuse box in the engine compartment
GWARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion,you can be injured
by the wiper linkage. There isarisk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
!Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
!When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture
seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses.
XMake sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
XOpen the hood.
XUseadry cloth to remove any moisture
from the fuse box.
XTo open:remove linesfrom the guides.
XMove linesaside. Route the lines behind
connection$to do this.
XOpen clamp.
XRemove the fuse box cover forwards.
XTo close:check whether the rubber seal is
lying correctly in the cover.
XInsert the cover at the rear of the fuse box
into the retainer.
XFold down cover and close clamps.
XSecure linesin the guides.
XClose the hood.
Fuse box in the trunk
!Make sure that no moisture can enter the
fuse box when the cover is open.
!When closing the cover, make sure that it
is lying correctly on the fuse box. Moisture
seeping in or dirt could otherwise impair
the operation of the fuses.
XOpen the trunk lid.
XTo open:release coverat the top right
and left-hand sides withaflat object.
XOpen coverdownwards in the direction
of the arrow.
332Fuses
Breakdown assistance

XStow the jack and the restofthe vehicle
toolsinthe trunk again.
XCheck the tire pressure of the newly
mounted wheel and adjustitifnecessary.
Observe the recommended tire pressure
(Ypage 338).
iVehicles with tire pressure monitor: all
wheels mounted must be equipped with
functioning sensors.
Wheel and tirecombinations
General notes
!For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP®,and are marked as follows:
RMO=Mercedes-BenzOriginal
RMOE=Mercedes-BenzOriginal Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
RMO1=Mercedes-Benz Original (only
certain AMG tires)
Mercedes-BenzOriginal Extended tires
may only be usedonwheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Certain characteristics, e.g. handling,
vehiclenoise emissions or fuel
consumption, may otherwise be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, tire dimension variations couldcause
the tires to come into contact with the
bodywork and axle components. This could
result in damage to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those
tested and approved.
Information on tires, wheels and approved
combinations can be obtained from any
qualified specialist workshop.
Overviewofabbreviations usedinthe
following tire tables:
RBA: both axles
RFA: front axle
RRA: rear axle
The recommended pressures for various
operating conditionscan be found:
Ron the Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures on
the B-pillar on the driver's side
Rin the tire pressure table on the inside of
the fuel filler flap
Observe the notes on recommended tire
pressures under various operating conditions
(Ypage 338).
Check tire pressures regularly,and only when
the tires are cold. Comply with the
maintenancerecommendations of the tire
manufacturer in the vehicle document wallet.
Notes on the vehicle equipment–always
equip the vehicle with:
Rtires of the same size onagiven axle (left/
right)
Rthe same type of tires atagiven time
(summer tires, winter tires, MOExtended
tires)
Vehicles with MOExtendedtires are not
equipped withaTIREFIT kit at the factory. It
is therefore recommendedthat you
additionally equip your vehicle withaTIREFIT
kit if you mounttires that do not feature run-
flat properties,e.g. winter tires.ATIREFIT kit
may be obtained fromaqualified specialist
workshop.
iNot all wheeland tire combinations are
available at the factory for all countries.
iOn the following pages, you can find
information on approved wheelrims and
tiresizesfor equipping your vehicle with
winter tires. Winter tires are not available
362Wheel and tirecombinations
Wheels and tires

the systemmay still display thetire
pressure of theremovedwheel forafew
minutes. The value displayed for the
mountedemergencysparewheel is notthe
same as the current tire pressure of the
emergency spare wheel.
"Minispare" emergency sparewheel/
collapsible sparewheel
Removing the "Minispare" emergency
sparewheel
The emergency spare wheel can be found in
the stowage well under the trunk floor.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 283).
XTurn stowage traycounter-clockwise
and remove together with vehicle tool kit
tray.
XRemove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel$.
Removing the collapsible sparewheel
(AMG vehicles)
The emergency spare wheel can be found in
the stowage wellunderthe trunk floor.
XLift the trunk floor upwards (Ypage 283).
XReach into cutoutin the tool holder and
lift it up.
XRemove collapsiblespare wheel.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mountingawheel" section
(Ypage 358).
Stowingaused collapsible spare
wheel
!Only place the collapsible spare wheel in
the vehicle when it is dry. Otherwise,
moisture may get into the vehicle.
Take the following steps to stowaused
collapsible spare wheel. It will not otherwise
install into the spare wheel well. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you have this work
performed ataqualified specialist workshop,
e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
XUnscrew the valve cap from the valve.
XUse the back of the valve cap to unscrew
the valve insert from the valve and release
the air.
iFully deflating the tires can takeafew
minutes.
XScrew the valve insert back into the valve.
XScrew the valve cap back on.
XRemove the protective sheet from the
vehicle tool kit and pull it over the
collapsible spare wheel.
XStow the collapsible spare wheel in the
emergency spare wheel well under the
trunk.
Inflating the collapsible sparewheel
!Inflate the collapsible spare wheel using
the tire inflation compressor before
lowering the vehicle. The wheel rim could
otherwise be damaged.
368Emergency sparewheel
Wheels and tires